The Salisbury Police held their first Christmas Charity Challenge and raised $3,200 for the American Cancer Society, the United Way and the Christmas Happiness Fund.

For this year’s challenge male officers dressed like women and female officers dressed like men.

It didn’t take long for the strange looking group to attract a lot of stares.

As soon as the men, or women, started out from the police department, a car pulled over and asked what they were doing.

“We’re dressing up to raise money,” Lt. Sonny Safrit said in his most feminine voice. So, the driver reached into her purse and gave him a few bucks.

They are still receiving donations, Police Chief Chris Herring said.

Before the group walked a block, several citizens had gathered behind and begun following them, eager to see everyone else’s reactions.

“It’s all about the money,” Herring said, a mud mask on his face and pink curlers in his hair.

Officer Mark Shue and his dog Tazzie won a dozen roses donated by Mills Florist for raising the most money.

But Lt. Sonny Safrit won the beauty contest. With a 30-minute professional make-up job, black pumps and a brunette wig to pull it all together, he won dinner for two donated by Applebee’s.

Others who participated were: Officer Jeff Wilkerson, wearing a beige dress and shoulder length salt and pepper wig; Officer Shanita Millsaps, sporting a pin-striped suit and brown full-rim hat; Dispatcher Joe Miller Jr., wearing a black and white casual dress and plenty of pink makeup; Officer Bill Higgins, whose short brown bob matched his mustache; and Officer Mark Hunter, wearing a white Sunday hat and a pink dress, not forgetting to accessorize it with his gun.

“I’d like to make this Charity Challenge an annual thing,” said Shue, who coordinated the fund-raiser. “The money is going to three very good causes.”

The group traveled up and down the streets of Salisbury, hugging downtown merchants who donated to the fundraiser.